Radial separator for purifying tobacco smoke and smokers&#39; articles incorporating such separators



Jan. 30, 1968 A. R. BROTHERS 3,366,122

RADIAL SEPARATOR FOR PURIFYING TOBACCO SMOKE AND SMOKERS ARTICLES INCORPORATING SUCH SEPARATORS Filed Feb. 5, 1965 FIG] I i F/6f8 F fi .24

g INVENTOB F T 455 K570574175 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,366,122 RADIAL SEPARATOR FOR PURIFYlNG TOBACCO SMOKE AND SMOKERS ARTICLES INCORPO- RATING SUCH SEPARATORS Abe R. Brothers, 900 Jefferson Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11221 Filed Feb. 3, 1965, Ser. No. 430,012 11 Claims. (Cl. 131-105) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A radial separator device for coaxial insertion between porous bodies transmitting a flow of tobacco smoke for removing tarry materials from such smoke. It comprises a cylindrical body defined by a thin circumferential wall with a web integral with said wall traversing said device substantially midway between opposed ends thereof, with a central passage extending axially through said web. A plurality of spaced members are integral with the web and protrude toward and terminate in alignment with the opposed ends of the device, providing discontinuous end surfaces, at least three of such members at each end of the device being spaced circumferentially of said central passage and continuous with the inner sur face thereof to provide axial elongate radial passage establishing communication between said central passage and the chambers formed by said spaced members, circumferential wall and web.

This invention relates to radial separator means for coaxial insertion between porous bodies transmitting a flow of tobacco smoke for removing tars and other deleterious materials from such smoke. More particularly, the invention relates to separator means of the class described in coaxial association with at least one porous filter element as an assemblage providing enhanced purification of a stream of tobacco smoke passing therethrough.

In spite of the growing awareness of the potentially harmful effects of smoking, it is significant to note that the number of people who continue as moderate to heavy smokers, has not been greatly reduced. One reaches the conclusion that for most smokers, the pleasure and relaxation derived from smoking outweighs the threat of damage to health. Under these circumstances, it is of primary importance that every effort be made to make available to smokers the most effective and practical means possible for removing tars and other deleterious materials from a smoke stream in the smoking process.

In my prior Patent No. 2,764,513, I have disclosed and claimed a tar removing device which, although very effective, is quite costly to produce and does not lend itself too well to assemblage in a cigarette by conventional manufacturing techniques. Furthermore, this device is not readily adaptable to use in connection with pipes and cigars, where the need for smoke purification is almost as great as in cigarettes.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved smoke purification device which will effect a greater proportionate removal from tobacco smoke of tars and other deleterious materials, hereinafter referred to collectively as tarry materials.

A further object of the invention is to provide a separator means of novel structure and mode of functioning whereby the efficiency of smoke purification is automatically enhanced when conditions are most adverse to the smoker, i.e. when the rate of draw or smoke flow is high, when the ambient conditions 'are cold and/or humid, and when the tobacco may be of poor quality.

Patented Jan. 30, 1968 A still further object is to provide a separator means or smoke purification device so constructed as to lend itself both to inexpensive mass production and to easy assemblage with other components by conventional techniques for use with cigars and pipes, as well as cigarettes.

These and other objects of the invention will be more fully apparent from a consideration of the following description together with the accompanying drawing in which preferred adaptations of the invention are illustrated with the various parts identified by suitable referenc characters in the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one form of radial separator in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing a modified form of construction;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing two further modified features;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on the line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing an assemblage of one radial separator and one filter element for axial passage of a smoke stream therethrough;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing a radial separator associated with two filter elements; and

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing a different arrangement of a radial separator with two filter elements.

The novel radial separators in accordance with the present invention have been illustrated in FIGURES 1-6 of the drawing as comprising cylindrical bodies 10 defined by a relatively thin circumferential wall 11 and a connecting web 12 spaced inwardly of the ends 13, 13 of the body 10 to form chambers or recesses 14, 14' at opposed ends of the device.

The web 12 is provided with a central bore or passage 15, the inner surface of which is continuous with inner surface portions 16, 16' of a plurality of circumferentially spaced members integral with the Web 12 and extending from the web 12'to the opposed ends 13, 13' of the device. The surfaces 16, 16' of said circumferentially spaced members provide in effect discontinuous extensions of the passage 15 forming narrow axially elongated openings 17, 17' for establishing communication between the passage 15 and the chambers 14, 14'.

In FIGURES l-4 the surfaces 16, 16 constitute the inner ends of radial spoke-like members 18, 18 which extend to and are integral with the circumferential wall 11 which serve the dual purpose of dividing the charnbers 14, 14 into a plurality of equal circumferentially spaced cavities and providing additional bearing surfaces at the ends 13, 13 of the device inwardly of the circumferential wall 11.

While FIGURES 1-4 of the drawing show 4 of the spoke-like members 18, 18' and 4 axially elongated passages therebetween, it is to be understood that this number is for illustrative purposes and not a limiting factor. It is intended that the device may include 4 to 6 such members 18, 18' providing 3 to 6 intermediate passages 17, 17, although it is considered preferable to employ 4 or 5 such members and passages.

The mode of operation of the radial separators will be best understood by imagining a smoke stream moving upwardly therethrough in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, or from right to left in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 where the device 10 is shown in typical coaxial arrangement with one or more filter elements. The end 13 of the device will engage a filter element, while the end 13' may engage a filter element or a body of tobacco as when incorporated in a cigar or cigarette.

In this latter engagement with a body of tobacco, the

end surfaces of the spoke-like members 18' provide effective means for supporting tobacco fibers (particularly cigarette tobacco) from entering the chamber 14. Alternatively, this type of support can be provided by the modified construction shown in FIGS. and 6 wherein the spoke-like members 18, 18 are replaced by circumferentially and radially spaced rod-like members integral with the web 12 and extending from the web 12 to the ends 13, 13 of the device. These rod-like members are suitably arranged in an inner ring of members 19, 19 providing the passage extensions 16, 16' and circumferentrally spaced elongated passages 17, 17 and an outer ring made up of members 20, 20' which are in radial alignment w1th the members 19, 19 and intermediate member 21, 21.

Further with respect to the mode of operation of the device, it will be noted that smoke entering the chamber 14 must pass through the elongated passages 17 and axial passage 15, meanwhile being greatly accelerated in its rate of flow. Then as the major portion of the smoke changes direction to move through the elongated passages 17 to the chamber (or multiple chambers) 14, it undergoes substantial expansion, and the combination of this direction change and expansion (with associated cooling) causes tars and other deleterious materials to deposit on the surfaces of the web 12 and the radial members 18 or 19 adjacent the passages 17. The amount of tarry material thus collected in experimental uses of the device with cigar, pipe and cigarette smoke is astonishing, and appears to be due in part to the capillary effect of trapped material being held in the confined corners between the surface of the Web 12 and surfaces of the radial members 18, 19, and in part to the fact that the expanding smoke stream in the chambers (or divided chambers) 14 has little tendency to pick up or move materials that have been deposited.

With the modified construction shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the major collection of tarry material takes place around the members 19, but significant additional quantities of material collect around the members 20 and 21.

The factors considered essentially in providing the effective removal of tarry substances as above described, are the comparative dimensions of the cross-sectional area passage and the aggregate cross-sectional area of the radial passages 17 (or both the passages 17 and 17 when the device is of symmetrical construction).

The central passage '15 should have a cross-sectional area equivalent to a circle .015 to .070" in diameter, and the several radial passages 17 should have an aggregate cross-sectional area equivalent to a circle .025" to .080" in diameter. A suitable combination of aperture sizes for cigarettes, for example, would be a passage 15 of .046 diameter. The total area of the combined passages 17 may be between .00166 to .00208 and preferably about .00183 sq. inches. It should be noted, however, that the selection of the optimum passage sizes 15 and 17 for particular uses and adaptations of the radial separator device will depend on the conditions to be encountered. In general, with heavier smoke, such as pipe or cigar smoke, the area of the passage 15 and aggregate area of the passages 17 should be larger than with cigarette smoke.

When the passages 17 extend the full distance from the web 12 to the end 13 or 13' of the device, it is sometimes found that optimum total area in the passages 17 will result in passages too large or too narrow for opimum performance. Adjusment of the total passage area and passage width can, in such instances, be facilitated by shortening the effective length of the passages 17. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the passages 17 have been shortened by providing annular hub parts 22, 22' integral with the web 12 and extending part-way from the web 12 to the respective ends 13, 13' of the device. This, of course, has the effect of lengthening the passage 15, a factor which in no way detracts from the effectiveness of the device. Furthermore, the hub members 22, 22' facilitate variation in design, as for example, by permitting the size of the chambers 14,

'14 to be increased by reducing the thickness of the web 12. When smoke is flowing through the device shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 from the passage 15 to the divided chamber 14, the deposits of tarry material are found to collect to a considerable extent at the junctures of the hub 22 with both the web 12 and radial members 18.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, the passages 17 at the end 13 of the device have been shortened by providing an end plug 23 in alignment with the passage 15 and integral with the rod-like members 19. It will be understood, moreover, that the end plug 23 can be employed in addition to, or in place of the hub 22 with devices having the spoke-like members 18, and that the hub 22 can be employed in addition to, or in place of the end plug 23 for shortening the passages 17 in FIGS. 5 and 6.

The radial separator devices as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 can be readily molded from various materials, such as metal, thermosetting or thermoplastic resins, or various combinations of filler and binder. Thus for example, devices intended for use in cigarettes can suitably be molded from cellulosic material or homogenized tobacco with a limited amount of binder, so that the devices as they remain in discarded cigarette butts have the capacity to disintegrate with exposure to the elements. The latter materials ofconstruction have the further advantage of providing for partial absorption of the collected tarry substances.

The radial sides of the members 18, 19, 20 and 21 have been shown slightly tapered to facilitate easy separation from the molds. In this connection, however, it is to be understood that appropriate taper can be provided in other wall portions of the device consistent with conventional molding practices. Thus, for example, the long core forming the passage 15 and underside of the end plug 23 in FIG. 6 will have a slight taper.

When employing a device with the end plug 23, it is preferable to orient the device with respect to the direction of the smoke stream. To this extent, this form of device is somewhat less practical than the symmetrical devices, i.e. FIGS. 1 to 4 and FIGS. 5 and 6 without the end plug 23.

While the present invention resides primarily in the structure of the radial separator per se, it also encompasses assemblages thereof with other filter components and combinations thereof with filter components and tobacco in articles, such as cigars and cigarettes. In these assemblages and combinations, it is the orientation of components rather than any details concerning the structure of assemblage that is considered novel; hence the diagrammatic showings in FIGS. 7 to 9 are appropriate. In FIGS. 7 to 9, the arrows 24 indicate the direction of smoke flow through the assemblages; T represents a body of tobacco, as in a cigarette or cigar, F, F and F" represent filter components hereinafter to be described, and 10 represents one or more radial separators of the type shown in FIGS. 1 to 6.

The simplest assemblage is a single radial separator 10 and a single filter element F supported in axial alignment as shown in FIG. 7. The filter element F can be any conventional body of filter material, such as compressed fibers or rolled sheets of cellulosic material. It should be noted, however, that the filter F for use in this assemblage can be of less dense, or more open structure having less restrictions on the draw than most conventional filters. The filter F may, if desired, be impregnated with menthol, mint, or other conventional flavoring agent to impart a controlled taste and aroma to the smoke passing therethrough. This assemblage can be supplied to a cigarette or cigar manufacturer for combining as a unit with the tobacco component, or alternatively, the separator 10 and filter F can be supplied separately and assembled in axial alignment with each other and with the tobacco component as a single manufacturing step.

In FIG. 8 there is indicated a modified assemblage having components 10 and F as in FIG. 7, but with a second filter element F therebetween and in axial alignment therewith. This second filter element F can be any of the conventional units for chemical treatment of, or reaction upon the smoke stream, such as carbon treated cellulosic material, porous charcoal, or silica gel, and the like, and if desired, the element F can contain the flavoring material rather than filter F. Here again the components F, F and 10 can be supplied as an assemblage, or supplied individually for assembly with the tobacco component in a single manufacturing step.

In FIG. 9 there is indicated a further modified assemblage in which the separator 10 is axially aligned between a filter element F and a second filter element F". The filter element F" can be of any of the types previously described as F and F, or it can be of a simpler, more open, construction intended primarily to pre-cool the smoke before entering the separator 10. Thus for example, it can be made of cellulosic fibers or wound strips of coarser texture than normally desired in filter element F. Again the components F, 10 and F" can be supplied individually, or as an assemblage to the cigarette and cigar manufacturer.

The assemblages of FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 can be supplied to cigarette manufacturers in multiple units in which several assemblages are connected in end-to-end relationship to be severed or separated in the cigarette manufacturing process. The choice of Whether to supply individual or collective assemblages will depend on the available machinery of the cigarette manufacturer; and it is to be understood that claims directed to the assemblages embrace both individual and multiple (end-to-end connected) assemblages.

It should be noted that the assemblage shown in FIG. 9 is particularly adapted for use as a filtering or smoke purifying unit for pipes. When used in pipes, however, it is desirable to employ two or three juxtaposed separators 10, preferably of the type including an end plug 23 in radial alignment between the elements F and F in order to provide the separating capacity required for several pipefuls of tobacco before a change of the filtering unit 1s necessary.

In line with the foregoing, it will also be understood that any of the assemblages shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 may employ 2 or 3 of the separators 10 in axial alignment either juxtaposed or spaced one from the other by filter elements, when associated with longer smokes, such as cigars, or when the tobacco to be employed is characteristically high in tarry combustion products.

As previously mentioned, the filter F, and for that matter all of the filter elements F, F and F can be less dense than most conventional filters, with the result that the assemblages shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 provide a less resistance to smoke passage, i.e. an easier draw, than most available filters.

In use, it will be recognized that the first increments of smoke passing through an assemblage will result (except when the device 10 includes an end plug 23) in the deposition of some tarry material on the portion of the filter F or F" which is in direct alignment with the passage 15 of the separator 10, tending to retard further smoke passage through this area of the filter and causing the bulk of the smoke thereafter to pass through the elongated passages 17. Within the chamber or divided chambers 14, as tarry deposits from the expanding smoke collect on the chamber walls as previously described, a certain amount of tarry material will, of course, also deposit on the juxtaposed surface of the filter element F or F". This deposit tends to build up radially with progressive impairment of smoke flow through the filter element, causing the smoke stream to become more concentrated at the outer periphery of the filter elements. In other words, the radial separator provides the dual advantage of physically removing a substantial portion of the tarry substance from the smoke stream and guiding the flow of smoke 6 to assure full utilization of the cross-sections of the filters F and F".

A unique feature of the assemblages, including one or more separators 10, and one or more filter elements, is that the efficiency of removing tarry substances is greatest when conditions are most adverse to the smoker. With conventional filters, cold and/0r humid ambient conditions, high velocity draw when smoking, and tobacco blends which are high in tarry combustion products, all favor excessive amounts of tarry substances passing through the filter and being inhaled by the smoker. Under these same adverse conditions, however, the structure of the radial separator 10 operates to physically remove increased proportions of the tarry materials from the smoke before it passes through the filter element F.

Various changes and modifications in the radial separators and the assemblages thereof with filter components and incorporation in smoking articles as herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the art, and to the extent that such changes and modifications are embraced by the appended claims, they constitute part of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A radial separator device for removing tarry materials from tobacco smoke, said device comprising a cylindrical body defined by a thin circumferential wall, a web integral with said wall traversing said device substantially midway between opposed ends thereof, a central passage extending axially through said web having a cross-sectional area equivalent to a circle about .015" to .070" in diameter, a plurality of spaced members integral With said web protruding toward and terminating in alignment with the opposed ends of said device providing discontinuous end surfaces, at least three of such members at each end of the device being spaced circumferentially of said central passage and continuous with the inner surface thereof to provide axially elongated radial passages establishing communication between said central passage and the chambers formed by said spaced members, circumferential wall and web, and said radial passages at each end of the device having an aggregate cross-sectional area equivalent to a circle about .025" to .080" in diameter.

2. A radial separator as defined in claim 1, wherein said spaced members are of spoke-like contour extending from and integrally joining said circumferential wall.

3. A radial separator as defined in claim 1, wherein said spaced members adjacent said central passage are of peg-like contour, and similar peg-like members integral with said web are disposed in spaced circumferential arrangement midway between said first members and said circumferential wall.

4. A radial separator as defined in claim 3, wherein the number of said second named peg-like members is twice the number of said first named members, with alternate of the second named members being in radial alignment with said first named members.

5. A radial separator as defined in claim 1, wherein the number of spaced members terminating at said central passage at each end of said device is a whole number from 3 to 6 and preferably from 4 to S.

6. A radial separator as defined in claim 1, wherein means is provided in integral association with the spaced members adjacent said central passage at the smoke discharging end of said device for shortening the length and providing area control for said radial passages.

7. A radial separator as defined in claim 6, wherein said last named means comprises a hub-like extension from at least one surface of said web circumferentially of said central passage.

8. A radial separator as defined in claim 6, wherein said last named means comprises an end plug connecting said spaced members and having the peripheral contour of said central passage whereby in molding said device the under surface of said end plug can be fashioned by the end of References Cited a core part forming said central passage. UNITED STATES P A N S 9. A radial separator as defined in claim 1, wherein 2,045,779 6/1936 Ikeda 131 203 opposed ends of said device are symmetrical. 2 126,422 8/1933 Tarrant' 10. A radial separator as defined in claim 1, wherein 5 2:695,617 11/1954 Warnberg 131-105 opposed ends of said device are non-symmetrical. 2,968,305 1/ 1961 Barnett 131-l0.5 X

11. A radial separator device as defined in claim 1 in FOREIGN PATENTS combination with a smokers article having a body of 1,365,712 5/1964 France smoking tobacco in fixed coaxial alignment with said 10 radial separator device. LUCIE H. LAUDENSLAGER, Primary Examiner. 

